MCSO: Man went to Tempe hotel to engage in bestiality

TEMPE, Ariz. – A man who recently moved to Arizona was arrested after going to a Tempe hotel to allegedly engage in bestiality, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's animal crimes investigators took Terry Wayne Haupt, 52, into custody near Baseline Road and Priest Drive on Wednesday.

According to investigators, Haupt had gone to a hotel room to meet up with what he thought was a woman and her dog but was actually an undercover female deputy and MCSO's undercover black Labrador.

Haupt reportedly posted an ad on Craigslist last month and investigators communicated with him over text, email and phone for about two weeks before setting up the encounter, according to court documents.

"Since the owners of Craigslist apparently refuse to forbid this illegal solicitation, my Animal Crimes Investigations will continue to remain vigilant in policing the website and ferreting out these cases," Sheriff Joe Arpaio said in the news release. "Bestiality is both a perversion and an act of animal cruelty and this office will continue in our efforts to stop it where we can."

Haupt faces one count of conspiracy to commit bestiality.

Court records show he moved to Globe from Longmont, Colorado, about a month ago.